Vacuum air-sander.



C. A: PRATTE.

VACUUM AIR SANDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAlm. 1909.

Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET 1 C. A. PRATTE.

y VACUUM AIR SANDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.25,1909.

95 3 ,228. Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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C. A. PRATTE.

VAGUUM AIB. SANDER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED umza, 1909.

` 95 3,228. Patented Manzi), 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. PRATTE, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 CRISSEY J'. CREWS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

VACUUM AIR-SANDER.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. PRA'r'rn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Air- Sanders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in vacuum air Sanders, my object being to provide a device of this character, which shall act upon the ejector principle, whereby the sand, which is lodged in a centrally located trap may be utilized for track sanding purposes, through the agency of the vacuum or partial vacuum produced by nozzles mounted in suitable proximity to the same, and connected with a suitable air source. After the sand is drawn through the agency of the vacuum, as aforesaid, into the path of the air current from the nozzles, it is forced by the air to the track rails in front or rear of the engine drivers or the wheels of any ear or vehicle with which the sand is employed.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sander connected with the pipe of sand box, and also with pipes for supplying the necessary air under pressure. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the same, illustrating the trap or central chamber filled with sand. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing the outlines of a locomotive with my improved sander ,in place and connected for use, the same being shown on a smaller scale. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the double sander, or two units, connected to receive sand throughthe same pipe, and utilized for supplying sand to four wheels instead of two on the same side of the engine. Fig. 5 is a top plan view, showing the outlines of a locomotive, and illustrating two of the Sanders, one on Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1909.

Serial No. 474,014.

each side of the sand box, and connected in operative relation with the air pipes, and also with the conduits for delivering sand to the tracks.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the central portion of one of my improved Sanders, the same constituting a casing whose upper por* tion has an opening interiorly threaded, as shown at 6, whereby the sander is connected with a pipe 7 leading from a sand box 48. This casing is provided with a depending circular flange S, which extends below the top of the casing, and prevents the sand, as it moves downwardly into the casing, from passing by gravity outwardly through the lateral extensions 9 of the casing. Below the flange 8, the casing is downwardly deflected, as shown at 10, forming in connection with the flange 8 a sort of trap, whereby the sand has to pass downwardly through the pipe 7 and the flange 8 into the bottom of the chamber into such a position that it cannot pass through the lateral extensions 9 except under the influence of the vacuum` pull developed by the ejectors or air nozzles 12, as hereinafter more fully explained. The extensions 9 on each side of the sand trap are interiorly threaded, as shown at 13, to receive a coupling sleeve lll, which is exteriorly threaded and connects the trap of the sander with fittings 15 located at the opposite extremities of the device. These fittings comprise casings 16, having threaded openings 17 and 18 formed at their upper and lower extremities respectively.

Into the upper extremity of each casing 6 is screwed a nozzle 12, having a central passage 19 longitudinally disposed, and through which air, delivered by a pipe 20, passes. To the upper extremity of each nozzle is screwed a short pipe 21, which is exteriorly threaded to engage the interior threads of a coupling sleeve 22, which connects the air pipe 2O with the short pipe 21. The upper extremity of each ejector nozzle is reduced in size, as shown at 23, leaving a space 24 around the upper extremity of the nozzle within the pipe 21, thus forming a lodgment for dirt or foreign particles of matter of any kind, which otherwise might have a tendency to clog the passage 19 of the ejector nozzle. Each nozzle 12 protrudes Patented Mar. 29, 1910.

downwardly and a considerable distance into l pipes, which I will designate 34 and 35 rethe casing 6, its lower extremity occupying a position below the center of the lateral extensions 9 of the trap or body of the sander. It will be understood that the sand, which is designated t4 (see Fig. 2), will be drawn through the extensions 9 into the casings 1G, if air is passed through the nozzles with sufficient force. The air escap ing from the nozzles is .directed at right angles to the axis of the lateral extensions of the bot y of the sander, and is directed into the upper extremities of conduits 25, which lead downwardly, to the drivers 26 of a locomotive 27, one of the conduits being arranged to deliver sand to a track rail 2S in front of a forward wheel 26, while the other conduit is arranged to deliver sand in the rear of the rear driver 26 (see Fig. Each conduit 25 has its upper extremity connected with the casing 16 by a union or pipe couplingA. composed of members B., C.,D.,E. and F., all of which are of ordinary construction, and need not be further described in detail.

The body of the sander is provided with openings 29, communicating with the central portion thereof on opposite sides of the trap flange S, thus bringing the central part of the sander into communication with the atmosphere through the agency of short depending tubes 20, which p'rotect the vent openings 29 against the entrance of foreign matter.

here a single sander only is used in connection with each sand pipe 7, the bottom of the casing 5 is closed by a screw plug 3l. Vhen it is desired to employ two of the sanders, one arranged directly above the other, the bottom of the sand trap of the upper sander is connected wit-h the upper extremity of a vertically disposed pipe section 32 (see Fig. t) ,whose lower extremity is connected with the top of the sander below, being screwed into the threaded opening 6 thereof.

lVhere two of the Sanders are employed, as shown in F ig. 4, the air pipes 20 of the upper sander constitute branches of a main air pipe 33, whose lower extremity is connected with the lowermost sander in the same manner as heretofore described when referring to the single sander construction. In this duplex construction of sander,A it may be assumed that the two conduits 25, which are connected with one sander, supply sand to the track in front of one wheel, and in the rear of another wheel of the locomotive, where there are four drivers on each side; while the pipes 25 from the other sander supply sand to the track in front and rear respectively of the other two wheels.

By reference to Fig. 5, the manner of supplying air to the Sanders will be understood. The locomotive is equipped with two air spectively. Each of these pipes is provided with an independent valve 36. The pipe delivers air to two pipes 20, being connected with these pipes, as shown at 37, each pipe leads downwardly to a sander, there being two of the latter', one on each side of the boiler. As shown in the drawing, the air pipe 85 supplies air to the sanders for the purpose of delivering sand through the conduits 25 to the track rails forward of the front drivers; while the pipe 34 delivers .air to the sanders for supplying sand to the track rails in the rear of the rear drivers.

It is evident that my improved sander may be used in every possible relation where a sander is required, since it may be readily connected with the discharge pipe leading downwardly from any sand box.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved sander will be readily understood. In describing this operation I will first assume that one of the sanders is connected with a sand box 8 on each side of the boiler ll0 of the locomotive 27. Now assuming that the box 8 is supplied with sand, this material will pass downwardly into the sanders and lodge in the central or trap portion of each, as shown at i-i in Fig. 2. It is evident that if the duplex construction illustrated in Fig. 4t is employed, the sand will first fill the trap of the lowermost sander, and afterward, the corresponding portion of the uppermost sander.

If it is desired to sand the track rails in front of the forward drivers, as for instance when the locomotive is moving in a forward direction, the valve 36 of the air pipe will be opened, whereby air is delivered to the two forward ejector nozzles l2 of the two sanders, one on each side of the boiler. ln this event, as the air is delivered under pressure into each casing 16, a partial vacuum will be formed, causing the air to rush into each sander through the openings 29, whereby a strong` current is induced from the center of each sander outwardly toward the ejector nozzle, this currentbeing of sufficient force to draw the sand 44- from the trap of each sander into the path of the air issuing from each ejector' nozzle. This sand Vis then driven by the direct force of the air currents issuing from the nozzles, downwardly through the forward conduits 25 and discharged upon the track rails. If it is desired to deliver sand in the rear of the rear drivers, as for instance when the locomotive is moving` backwardly, the valve 2G of the air pipe 34 would be ope-ned by the engineer', or other person in charge of the train, and-air would be delivered to the rear ejector nozzles of the two sanders, operating in the same manner as heretoforeexplained, to cause the sand to rush into the path of the air currents of the nozzles, the sand being driven through the two rear conduits to the track rails in the rear of two of the drive wheels, as will be readily understood.

Attention is called to the fact that in case the trap of any sander shall contain stones or gravel of a size too large to be removed therefrom through the agency of the vacuum produced by the ejector nozzles, as heretofore explained, the screw plug 31 may be quickly removed and the obstruction dislodged. In the meantime, the sand pipe 7 below the sand box 48 may be temporarily stopped by removing a screw plug 41 and introducino' a piece of waste, or other material of sufhcient consistency to form a temporary obstruction, to prevent wasting the sand from the box during the cleaning-out operation. After this has been accomplished, the plug 31 is restored, the temporary obstruction removed from the sand pipe, and the plug 31 inserted.

Provision is made in my improved sander, whereby the sand is not affected by the moisture of the air employed in removing the same from the trap, since the ejecting nozzles are located at a considerable distance from the sand in the trap, and any moisture passing through the said nozzles has noy opportunity to reach the sand within the tra Il?, will be understood that in order that the device may work to the best advantage the sand when within the trap must be dry, so that it may readily respond to the air currents induced by virtue of the escape of air from the ejector nozzles. After the sand has been drawn into the path of the air current issuing from the nozzles, the force of this current. will carry it downwardly through the conduits 25, since it is no longer necessary that the sand shall be in a particularly dry state. It may also be stated that in the event the sand within the trap contains any moisture, it is given an opportunity to dry by virtue of the openings 29, which communicate with the atmosphere by way of the short depending pipes 30.

Since each member' 16 is threaded upon a connecting sleeve 14, these members may be so adjusted that the ejector nozzles may occupy any desired position. This is an important feat-ure, since the sand boxes upon locomotives are not always arranged in the same position, and it will oftentimes be necessary to give the member 16 a partial turn upon its connecting sleeve 14.

Attention is called to the fact that a small quantity only of air is required for use in connection with my improved sander, since the sand may be drawn from the trap very easily. This is largely due to the fact that the openings 29, communicating with the atmosphere through the tubes 30, are relatively small, thus creating a strong air current, while but a relatively small quantity of air passes through the ejectors. This is an important feature, since it makes it practicable to use air with the sander without materially interfering with the air required for other purposes upon the train, as for operating the air brakes.V

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A sander provided with a centrally located depending sand trap through which the sand is delivered to the sander, lateral extensions and air nozzles for removing the sand from the tra on the ejector principle, and arranged to Viseharge across the outer extremities of said extensions.

2. A sander provided with a centrally located chamber, arranged by means of a depending trap, to prevent the escape of the sand by gravity, extensions connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, air nozzles mounted on the said extensions and arranged to discharge air across the outward extremities of the extensions and conduits connected with the sander for delivering sand to t-he track.

3. A sander comprising a depending sand trap, ejectors located arjacent tothe trap for removing the sand therefrom, extensions between the trap and the ejectors, and conduits connected with the sander and arranged to carry the sand to the track under the influence of the air pressure from the ejectors.

4. A sander comprising a trapped casing having lateral outlets, air nozzles extending transversely of said outlets and at the outer extremities thereof, the casing having an opening communicating with the atmosphere in the vicinity of the trap, and means for passing air through the nozzles under pres sure across the outer extremities of the outlets, the nozzles being so located that a strong air current is induced outwardly from the trap from the said aperture to the nozzles, whereby the sand is carried into the path of the air issuing from the latter, substantially as described.

5. A sander comprising a centrally located sand containing trap, and having lateral extensions leading outwardly from the trap, an air nozzle arranged to discharge air transversely across the outer extremity of each extension, the sander being provided with apertures located close to the trap, and communicating with the atmosphere, whereby outwardly directed air currents are induced by the vacuum resulting from a discharge of the air from the nozzles, substantially as described.

6. A sander comprising a casing having a centrally located chamber formed in the lower part thereof, the said casing having lateral extensions leading outwardly from its upper por-tion, vthe casing having a depending flange located directly above the chamber, whereby the sand is t-rapped in the chamber, openings located adjacent to the said flange and communicating with the atmosphere, and air nozzles arranged to deliver air across the outer vextremities of the casing extensions, whereby air currents are induced from the said apertures outwardly for the purpose of removing sand from the trap and carrying it into the path of the air issuing from the nozzles, substantially as described.

7. A sander Comprising a casing having a centrally located, relatively low sand receptacle a depending flange projecting into said receptacle and forming a trap, the casing having lateral extensions communicating with the sand receptacle, but so located as to prevent the passage of the sand through the said extensions by gravity, and air ejectors connected with the outer extremities of the extension, and arranged to discharge air in a direction at right vangles to the axes of the extensions, substantially as described.

8. A sander comprising a .casing having a centrally located sand receptacle and an opening in the top of the sander, the casing having a flange extending downwardly from the said opening, whereby the sand is trapped, the sander having extensions leading outwardly from the chamber and located above the bottom of the same, and air ejectors connected with the outer .extremities of the saidextensions and arranged to discharge air across the same, the sander having lopenings directly `below the discharge extremities of the ejectors, and pipes leading from said openings through which the sand may be forced under the influence of the air pressure of the nozzles.

9. A sander provided with a sand box, a chamber closed at the bottom but open at the top to receive sand from said box by gravity, Aand arranged by means of a depending trap to prevent the escape 0f the sand by gravity, an extension connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom, an air nozzle mounted on the said extension and arranged to discharge across the outer extremity of the extension, and a conduit connected with the sander for delivering sand to the track, under the influence of the air current issuing from the nozzle.

10. The combination with a source of sand supply, of a sander provided with a chamber closed at the bottom but open above to receive sand from said source by gravity, and arranged by means of a depending trap to prevent the escape of sand by gravity, a-

horizontally disposed extension connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom, an air nozzle mounted on the said extension and arranged to discharge across the ,outer Aextremity thereof, `and la conduit connected with the sander for delivering the sand ,to the track, under the influence of the air issuing from the nozzle.

1l. The combination with `a source of sand supply, kof -a sander provided with a chainber closed at the bottom but having Aan opening in the top to receive sand from said source bygravity, the chamber having a flange surrounding the inlet opening and extending downwardly into the chamber forming a trap to prevent the escape of sand 4by gravity, an extension connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom, an air nozzle mounted on the said extension and arranged to discharge across the outer extremity of the extension, and va conduit connected Vwith the sander for delivering sand to the track, under the influence of the air current issuing from the nozzle. y

12. The combination lwith a sand box, of a chamber arranged below the box, a pipe connecting the box with the said chamber to allow the sand to enter the latter by gravity, the chamber being closed at the bottom and having a depending flange extending downwardly from the opening in its top, forming a trap to prevent the escape of sand by gravity, an extension connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom, an yair nozzle arranged to discharge across the outer extremity of the extension, and a conduit connected with the sander for delivering sand `to the track, under the influence of `the air current issuing from the nozzle.

13. The combination with a sand box, of a -chamber arranged below the box, a pipe connecting the box with the said chamber to allow the sand to enter the latter by gravity, the chamber being closed at the bottom, and Lhaving a depending flange extending downwardly from the opening in its top, forming a trap-to prevent the escape of sand by gravity, the chamber having a vent opening above the lower edge of the said flange, an extension connected with the chamber and leading outwardly therefrom, an air nozzle arranged to discharge across the outer extremity of the extension, and a conduit connected with the sander for delivering sand t0 the track, under the influence of the air current issuing from the nozzle.

14. The combination with a sand box, of a chamber arranged below the box, a pipe connecting the box with the said chamber to allow the sand to enter the latter by gravity, the chamber being closed at the bottom and having a depending flange extending downwardly from the opening in the top, forming a trap to prevent the escape of lsand by grav ity, the chamber having a ventI opening above the lower edge of the flange, an openended pipe connected with said opening and extending downwardly therefrom, `an extension connected with the chamber' and leading outwardly therefrom, an air nozzle arranged to discharge across the outer extremity ofthe extension, and a conduit connected with the sander for delivering sand to the track, under the influence of the air current issuing from the nozzle.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature 1n presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. PRATTE.

Witnesses A; J. OBRIEN, A. EBERT OBRIEN. 

